Resource Library

The Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI) reviews a variety of resources, ranging from guidance documents, research papers, and policy briefs to tools and websites aimed at supporting state and local education agency leadership in making decisions about their standards, assessment programs, and accountability systems. Reviewed resources are added monthly.

This report provides educators' perspectives on their readiness and needs regarding helping students meet new state standards. Findings are drawn from surveys of the American Teacher and School Leader panels, which represent samples of K–12 teachers and school leaders across the nation. The survey...

This study by the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University surveyed a representative sample of teachers in five states (Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Nevada) as they prepared their students to take the new Common Core-aligned assessments in the spring...

The implementation of new consortia-based tests (Smarter Balanced and PARCC) has created concern among both educators and school leaders about increased test difficulty, score accuracy, technology, and educator readiness to prepare students for the new assessments. In this brief report, the authors...

This website provides a wide range of information on assessments, including an overview of assessment literacy, California’s assessment system, the purposes and uses of assessments, developing assessments, analyzing data, and effective use of assessment results. It is one in a series of ...

From the authors: "Many states’ science standards are based on guidance documents created by the National Research Council in 1996 that do not reflect the scientific advances and educational research findings that have since occurred. Among options for policymakers to consider to update existing...

As part of its Common Core State Standards (CCSS) professional learning module series, the California Department of Education, in collaboration with the San Joaquin Valley County Office of Education, has developed an online module focused on the topic of assessment literacy. The resource is...

This article provides an overview of a mathematics program "Strength in Number," which is used by some Wyoming schools that serve large numbers of Native American students. The program exemplifies the type of learning and assessment envisioned in the Common Core State Standards, though it was...

Jason Zimba, a Common Core State Standards (CCSS) lead writer, uses specific standards to explain how small, but important, phrases tucked into the standards indicate shifts in the traditional approach to the CCSS. He uses specific cases from the standards to demonstrate how the specific wording of...

Supporting research-based decision-making in standards and assessment

WestEd and CRESST, two national leaders in the standards and assessment field, continue their collaboration in providing high-quality research support and technical assistance to states as the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI).

This award is a grant under prime award #S283B050022A between the U.S. Department of Education and WestEd. The findings and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. This site and its contents copyright WestEd. All rights reserved.